Cloud cover seems to be breaking, winds are visibly much lighter than on tuesday. All looking very sweet.

I've never used heavens above before, but it looks like it just reports night-time passes.

No big deal, though - I was just curious and thought one of our satellite observer jocks might be able to rattle out something off the top of their head

Go NH!

I hope Doug is putting some of these superb images on DVD !

Fascinating to watch JTrack

Active content blocked at work so I can't see it now.

http://science.nasa.gov/Realtime/JPass/20/

http://science.nasa.gov/RealTime/JTrack/3d/JTrack3d.html


Nick

Weather is good for launch , no streaming webcam allowed here at work, but I have the still webcam images.

the main rocket body is now completely frosted white - quite a change compared to 1st launch attempt!

That short Launch Services movie was a nice 5 minutes intermezzo

Intermezzo... Never heard that one befo'. I'll steal it from you.

68 people online now.

Cloud deck scattered Cloud deck broken
Continue to monitor the weather but at the T-4 minutes built-in 10 minutes hold it seems to look A-O.K.

Despite the large amounts of blue sky in the NASA TV feed it looks like we may be waiting temporarily for better cloud clearance.

Sky News hasnt started carrying NTV yet, so I'm stuck with a feed at the moment.

Doug

Me too but I have it displaying via s-video out to my TV and it's looking and sounding mighty fine.

I'm having a heck of a time getting the live feed. Can someone post a link, please

Damn, looks like another launch dealy due to weather.

Crap crap crap !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!that cloud extends for miles and miles.

I'm getting mine direct from NASA TV Landing Page.

Everybody GO ...
Weather: Cloud Ceiling rule violation ...
Coordinating a new T ZERO
18:25 Zulu

New T0 18:25 GMT

Lousy, friggin' clouds!

Watching: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

Why is the cloud ceiling so important ?
( Telemetry or Tracking reasons ? )

Here we go a flipping ! again.....

LOL.......... im off.... see you all this time tomorrow.

DAGNABBIT!! Range coordinator said the weather is no-go for a 1:25 PM liftoff

But... no one will be here tomorrow. We're launching today!

It's easy to pick up at:

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

Not that they're going anywhere at present - now the range isn't able to support the (possible) 1.23 launch time!

Retargeted to 18:30 Zulu (or 6:30pm tu us guys on GMT).

Bob Shaw

New T-ZERO 18:30 Zulu ... The longer I look, the more clouds are passing overhead this beauty Atlas V

While we're waiting - does anyone know what's involved in terms of changing the flight software when they shift the T0?
As far as I can understand the commentary the 18:25 T0 was pushed to 18:30 because they couldn't fit a flight profile to it? Did I misunderstand that?

I'm looking outside my window right now...and it's nice and sunny--no clouds--here in Cali. If only the footage on NASA TV could look like that

EDIT: Crap... Much of the sky is covered by clouds from the footage I see

Clouds never harms anything except to a full coverage film on NH

Rodolfo

According to spaceflightnow.com, extra delay was for check that restricted area downrange is clear.

$%%#&* clouds

Another delay due to clouds. Deja vu.

In Homer Simpson voice shaking my fist: "I said launch it!"

Well the Sun has gone in Florida ... New T-Zero due to cloud cover:
18:40 Zulu

Range is 'no go' for launch at 1:30 p.m. because of clouds obscuring the optics for tracking the rocket at liftoff.

In that case ya'll best come back some time next week as the forcast is not too good out to Monday.............

According to nasatv commentary, clouds are a criteria because of optical tracking requirement.

They're "retardying" the launch...

Why only optical tracking instead of radar tracking which is not dependent upon to the visibility factor? There were many night launch in past time

Rodolfo

I'm checking the 10-day weather forecast on Yahoo.com...and the only sunny day will be next Thursday...and that's kinda hittin' it too close to the Jupiter assist deadline

I think he said "GO" for 18:40 Zulu!

A mention of some clearing.

He did... Cross your fingers...

EDIT: AARRRRGGGHHH!!! No Go again...

Where's an emoticon for a crying face when you need one?

I think he meant "Retargitating"

Still NO GO !!!!

I am guessing this launch may have additional constraint for optical tracking due to the RTG. I.e., if it is a bad day, optical tracking helps to find where all the pieces fall.

edit: IIRC, the original series of launch windows were skewed 12 hours, i.e., at night. That was changed to the day launch windows about 3-4 months ago.

Looks like a jolly fine soaring/gliding day there.

Nick

These delays are making me very unproductive at work.

Yes, they would want to see the splash of the RTG hitting the ocean..

Same deal again ... Too many clouds!
Range N go ...
New T-Zero :
18:50 Zulu time